The Way Things Were -- 04/09/2014 By Anne Weaver

ABOUT THE WEEK OF APRIL 9, 1965, Editor Clark Osborne wrote, "Each day events around the globe served to bring home to Americans, in even greater degree, the true value of our national Constitution, whose 177th birthday would be celebrated the week of Sept. 17-23, 1965. "We need only look about this land of ours to realize that for whatever faults it may have, our form of government by consent of the governed, as set forth in that single document, is far preferable to the government by force, threat and oppression under which so much of the world exists today.

"The evil tyranny of dictatorship is outlined more sharply when contrasted to government under laws which respect man's personal liberties and aspirations. Which undoubtedly explains why our insistence upon orderly procedures and legal methods of doing the world's business infuriates the Kremlin leaders and all those allied with them.

"What better time, then, to reexamine and to reflect upon our legal safeguards, our government institutions, our rights and obligations as free citizens of a free nation than during Constitution week?"

Approval of classification of surface waters in the 5,800 square mile St. Lawrence River Drainage Basin, as a prerequisite for area-wide pollution abatement, was announced by NYS Conservation Department Commissioner Harold G. Wilm, chairman of the State Water Resources Commission. These classifications were to provide the basis for preventing new pollution and abating existing pollution.

They took into consideration the protection of fish and wildlife, industrial development and assurance of reasonable standards of purity and quality consistent with public health and enjoyment. Signing of the classification order by the Water Resources Commission was an important milestone in the state's water pollution program, Wilm said.

The St. Lawrence River Drainage Basin is not only one of the largest river drainage basins in the state, but its classification made the statewide surface water classification program 85 percent complete. Counties included in the St. Lawrence Basin are all of St. Lawrence and portions of Lewis, Jefferson, Herkimer, Hamilton, Franklin and Clinton.

New York's official tree is the sugar maple.

At INLET, the Public Service Commission authorized New York Central Railroad to discontinue the last remaining passenger service on the Adirondack Division between Utica and Lake Placid and to give no less than 15 days notice to the public. The decision was based upon a determination that "insubstantial use is being made of the subject trains; that substantial losses have been sustained by the railroad in the operation of the trains and that the loss of the mail contract and the continuing declining trend in passenger usage indicate the absence of prospects for profitable operation in the future," and that "the continued operation of these trains would not only be an inexcusable economic drain and waste, but a threat to the financial stability of the carrier."

New York Central operated only two trains on the division, No. 165, which left Utica and arrived at Lake Placid; and No. 164, which left Lake Placid and arrived in Utica. Cars of these two trains were interchanged with main line trains at Utica. Intermediate stations served by the two trains were Thendara (Old Forge), Big Moose, Beaver River, Brandreth, Ne-Ha-Sa-Ne (private station), Sabattis, American Legion, Tupper Lake, Lake Clear Junction, Lake Placid and Ray Brook.

Statistics submitted by the railroad showed the average number of passengers riding the northbound train during 1963 approximated 15.3 and had declined to 11.0 in 1964 and that patronage on the southbound train in 1963 averaged 10.8 and had declined to 9.7 in 1964. The railroad operated a freight train over the division one day a week. This service would be continued.

The Old Forge Branch Office of the New York State Employment Service would open its office for the season in April. The Employment Service, located in Community Hall, would be staffed by Mrs. Grace Risley and Mrs. Elizabeth Smith.

The members of Inlet Community Church were pleased to announce the Rev. Roger Best of Syracuse had accepted the pastorate of the church, and was greeted with a well-filled church at the worship service Sunday morning. Best was an ordained minister and a graduate of a Southern theological college. He was a member of the Air Force stationed at Hancock Air Base, Syracuse, with 18 years of air service. Upon his retirement he planned to devote his life to a full-time ministry.

At RAQUETTE LAKE, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burke, Raquette Lake, welcomed a daughter, Nora, born March 18 in Tupper Lake. The Burkes had two other daughters and two sons.

Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Morin of Raquette Lake also welcomed a new daughter, Lisa, born March 10 in Tupper Lake. They had eight other daughters and four sons.